Processing Encumbered Electronic Communications

1. A computer-assisted method for archiving an electronic message sent by a sender to a recipient, the method comprising: prior to sending the electronic message to the recipient: (a) determining, by an encryption management module on a computer system associated with the sender that comprises a processor and a memory device, whether the electronic message includes an attachment in a recognized document format when the sender attempts to send the electronic message; (b) determining, by the encryption management module, whether the electronic message includes an encumbered attachment when the electronic message includes the attachment in a recognized document format, wherein the electronic message has an encumbered attachment when the attachment is password protected by a native application of the attachment; (c) electronically prompting, by the encryption management module on the computer system, the sender for a password for access to the encumbered attachment until a correct password is supplied when it is determined that the electronic message includes a password protected encumbered attachment; (d) disencumbering, by the computer system, using the password entered in response to the electronic prompt, the encumbered attachment of the electronic message to create a disencumbered attachment of the electronic message; (e) storing a copy of the disencumbered attachment of the electronic message in an electronic archival system; and (f) transmitting the electronic message with the encumbered attachment to the recipient when the password provided by the sender is successfully verified as the correct password.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing a copy of the encumbered attachment of the electronic message in the electronic archival system.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising marking the stored copy of the encumbered attachment of the electronic message and the stored copy of the disencumbered attachment of the electronic message with a common identifier.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic message is an e-mail and the encumbered attachment of the electronic message is an attached file.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encumbered attachment of the electronic message is an attached file that is encumbered by a computer application that created the attached file.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein storing the disencumbered attachment of the electronic message comprises storing the disencumbered attachment of the electronic message only when the password provided by the sender is successfully verified as correct.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable device having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor on a computer system associated with a sender, cause the processor to: prior to sending an electronic message to a recipient: (a) determine, by an encryption management module of the non-transitory computer-readable device, whether the electronic message includes an attachment in a recognized document format when the sender attempts to send the electronic message; (b) determine, by the encryption management module, whether the electronic message includes an encumbered attachment when the electronic message includes the attachment in a recognized document format, wherein the electronic message is associated with the sender and the recipient, and wherein the electronic message has an encumbered attachment when the attachment is password protected by a native application of the attachment; (c) electronically prompt, by the encryption management module, the sender for a password for access to the encumbered attachment until a correct password is supplied when it is determined that the electronic message includes a password protected encumbered attachment; (d) disencumber, using the password entered in response to the electronic prompt, the encumbered attachment of the electronic message to create a disencumbered attachment of the electronic message; (e) store a copy of the encumbered attachment of the electronic message in a disencumbered format in an electronic archival system; and (f) transmit the electronic message with the encumbered attachment to the recipient when the password provided by the sender is successfully verified as the correct password.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 7 , having further stored thereon instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to store a copy of the encumbered attachment of the electronic message in the electronic archival system.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 8 , having further stored thereon instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to mark the stored copy of the encumbered attachment of the electronic message and the stored copy of the disencumbered portion attachment of the electronic message with a common identifier.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 7 , wherein the electronic message is an e-mail and the encumbered attachment of the electronic message is an attached file.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 7 , wherein the encumbered attachment of the electronic message is an attached file that is encumbered by a computer application that created the attached file.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 7 , having further stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to store the disencumbered attachment of the electronic message only when the password provided by the sender is successfully verified as correct.

13. A system comprising: a computer system comprising a processor and a memory device; and an electronic archival system in communication with the computer system, wherein the computer system is programmed to: prior to sending an electronic message to a recipient: (a) determine, by an encryption management module on the computer system, whether the electronic message includes an attachment in a recognized document format when a sender attempts to send the electronic message; (b) determine, by the encryption management module, whether the electronic message includes an encumbered attachment when the electronic message includes the attachment in a recognized document format, wherein the electronic message is associated with the sender and the recipient, and wherein the electronic message has an encumbered attachment when the attachment is password protected by a native application of the attachment; (c) electronically prompt, by the encryption management module, the sender for a password for access to the encumbered attachment until a correct password is supplied when it is determined that the electronic message includes a password protected encumbered attachment; (d) disencumber, using the password entered in response to the electronic prompt, the encumbered attachment of the electronic message to create a disencumbered attachment of the electronic message; (e) transmit the electronic message with the encumbered attachment to the recipient when the password provided by the sender is successfully verified as the correct password; and (f) store a copy of said electronic message in a disencumbered format in the electronic archival system.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the electronic archival system stores a copy of the encumbered attachment of the electronic message.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the memory device further stores instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to mark the stored copy of the encumbered attachment of the electronic message and the stored copy of the disencumbered attachment of the electronic message with a common identifier.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the electronic message is an e-mail and the encumbered attachment of the electronic message is an attached file.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the encumbered attachment of the electronic message is an attached file that is encumbered by a computer application that created the attached file.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the memory device further stores instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to store the disencumbered attachment of the electronic message only when the password provided by the sender is successfully verified as correct.